NEWS CENTRE

VICTORIAVILLE (QC) - The 7th edition of the Sani-Marc/Desjardins Canada Cup (CCSM-D) will be held from Thursday, August 15th to Sunday, August 18 at the Victoriaville Golf Club in Victoriaville Quebec.

Following the announcement of the cease of operations of the Circuit Canada Pro Tour (CCPT), the Victoriaville GC management has made the every effort to literally save the event, considered one of the most important in Canada.

Previously acting as host club, the Victoriaville GC is now main sponsor of the event. In order to properly lead the competition, Great Lakes Tour (GLT) has been hired and will be mandated to care for registrations, regulations and course set up.

For the Victoriaville Club management, GLT is the best choice to meet the challenge of organizing such events in such a short time. GLT is at the head of some fifteen professional competitions annually and has been in operation since 2001. They also have the resources and the expertise to ensure the success of the competition.

Edouard Rivard, GOLF CANADA level 3 Rules Referee and his team will see to all required rulings during this highly competitive week of golf.

This year a maximum of 156 players will be accepted and the ratio has been established as follows: Quebec Professionals (50), Great Lakes Tour National Members (35), PGA of Canada members outside Quebec (40), amateurs (10) special exemptions (6), GLT Event Qualifiers Non-Members - (3) GLT Collingwood Classic July 11-12, (2) GLT Regular Season #8 Lindsay July 18, (10) Southern Ontario Open July 25-27.

"Following the closure of CCPT a little over a month ago, we were destabilized and as many, very worried about the future of our unique event. However, we decided to invest all our energy to ensure the survival of the Sani-Marc/Desjardins Canada Cup for this year and years to come. I would like to acknowledge the extraordinary work accomplished by Jerry Seguin, President of CCSM-D and our Executive Director, Alain Danault. These two have worked miracles in a very short time." said Jacques Roy, President of the Victoriaville GC.

This year's cut after Friday's round will be established at the best 70 players and ties instead of 60 as before.

The 2019 edition will offer "Live Scoring" allowing both players and spectators to follow the competition in real time thanks to an app available on mobile phones. Screens and leaderboards will also be placed at several strategic locations on site and within the clubhouse.

The total purse has been set at $125,000 of which $25,000 will go to the champion. It's the largest purse in Canada next to the MacKenzie Tour.

"None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of the great partners who have supported the event from the very beginning. The Cit of Victoriaville, the Sani-Marc Group, Desjardins and the Plombaction Group have all agreed to continue the adventure without hesitation. It provided us with the energy to begin the process leading up to today's announcement." Says Jerry Seguin, Chair of the Sani-Marc/Desjardins Canada Cup Organizing Committee.

This year, thanks to an agreement with the title partner Sani-Marc, access for spectators to the tournament will now be free for all four rounds of the competition.

The traditional Pro-am, allowing amateur golfers to play a round of golf with a participations professional in the competition will take place on Tuesday, July 13 (pro-am Golf Club Victoriaville) and Wednesday, July 14 (pro-am major partners).

The Sani-Marc Challenge will be presented on Wednesday at 6pm instead of Tuesday. It will be a "Speed Golf" Competition with teams of four. The object is to play the 18th hole as quickly as possible with the help of the four players who play in quick succession. A most spectacular event and the public can attend for free. First place prize of $1,000 is up for grabs.

Nearly 90 volunteers have already confirmed their presence. "They are the cornerstone of the event. Without them, it would be unthinkable to oversee such a major competition." concluded Jerry Seguin.